Continuous closure system reinforcing buttoned garments

ABSTRACT

The invention is a continuous closure system comprised of an open ended concealed zipper, row of hook and eye fasteners, or strip of hook and loops, that attach to a button placket of a front-buttoning shirt. The invention allows the wearer to close the front of the shirt after dressing themselves in the shirt by zipping the zipper, fastening the hook and eye fasteners, or pressing the hook and loop strips together, and then button the shirt with no revealing gaps between the buttons or unwanted stress on the buttons from a curvy figure beneath the shirt. One half of the continuous closure system attaches to the exterior surface of the button placket, and the matching side of the continuous closure system attaches to the interior surface of the button-hole placket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this invention is closure, specifically for articles of clothing. The impetus for this invention is the gapping between button-holes on blouses or front-buttoning shirts, especially common for those with curvy bodies beneath the material. This gapping can reveal the body or undergarments beneath the shirt. This invention is meant to address and prevent this gapping in a way that is unnoticeable to others.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The advantage of this invention is a continuous closure to a buttoned shirt. The continuous closure system is comprised of a zipper, row of closely spaced hooks and eye fasteners, or strip of hook and loop material, preventing the gapping between buttons so common on the front of women's shirts, while maintaining the look of the traditional button-front shirt. The continuous closure system is hidden from view, behind the button and button-hole plackets of an otherwise traditional button-front shirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 Description of button placket in context of front-buttoning shirt

FIG. 1 a Attachment of closure system to button placket and button-hole placket

FIG. 1 b Representation of outside of button placket and inside of button-hole placket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The continuous closure system comprises a concealed zipper, row of hook and eye fasteners, or strip of hook and loop material, that is attached at the point of closure of a button placket, which is along the split front of a garment, with buttons and buttonholes that are used for closure. The continuous closure system holds the button placket and button-hole placket together continuously such that when closed, the button placket does not gap between buttons or reveal anything beneath the placket. With regard to a front-buttoning shirt, the present invention allows the wearer to close the front of the shirt after dressing themselves in the shirt by zipping the zipper, fastening the hook and eye fasteners, or pressing the hook and loop strips together, and then button the shirt with no revealing gaps between the buttons or unwanted stress on the buttons from a curvy figure beneath the shirt.

One half of the continuous closure system will attach to the clothing on the button-side of the unclosed garment, on the outside of the button placket. The other half of the continuous closure system will attach to the clothing on the buttonhole-side of the unclosed garment, on the inside of the button placket. The continuous closure system will overlap with the clothing material, such that only the zipper teeth, hook and eye fasteners, or raised portion of the hook and loop strip will extend from the cloth of the clothing. This closure system can be installed in an existing article of buttoned clothing or be installed at inception of a piece of clothing at the time of manufacturing of a piece of clothing. The closure system can be sewn into the garment or affixed to the garment using a bonding material between the fabric edge of the zipper, the backside of the hook and loop strips, or the base of the hook and eye fasteners and the clothing fabric. 

1. In a garment having an opening with a side with buttons and a side with button-holes, a garment closure system, comprising: A means for continuous closure of a button placket and a button-hole placket at the opening of the garment, with the means for continuous closure attached to the button placket and button-hole placket in a way that is hidden from view and maintains the traditional appearance of a buttoned shirt.
 2. The continuous closure system of claim 1, wherein: one side of the zipper, row of hook and eye fasteners, or hook and loop material, attaches to the exterior surface of the button placket, and the matching side of the zipper, hook and eye fasteners, or hook and loop material, attaches to the interior surface of the button-hole placket.
 3. The continuous closure system is affixed to the garment permanently.
 4. The continuous closure portion of the closure system of claim 1, wherein: the zipper, hook and eye fasteners, or hook and loop material, is hidden behind the outermost placket. 